Russia unleashes wave of massive missile attacks across Ukraine

Among the cities hit were Kyiv, Lviv, Dnipro, Kharkiv, and Odesa (Picture: Telegram)

Vladimir Putin has unleashed a savage combined air assault on Ukraine, targeting several cities with a range of drones and missiles.

It is thought to be the most intense aerial bombardment of the conflict so far and has been seen as revenge for Kyiv’s Storm Shadow strike on the Novocherkassk large landing ship this week.

Ukraine said more than a dozen strategic bombers were deployed for the raids, carrying Kinzhal, Iskander, S-300s, Kh-22 and Kh-32 missiles, with reports of Iranian-supplied Shahed drones and Kalibr cruise missiles also being used.

‘We have never seen so many targets on our monitor at the same time,’ air force spokesman Yuriy Ignat added.

Andriy Yermak, head of Volodymyr Zelensky’s office, said: ‘There are dead people who were killed by Russian missiles today, which were launched at civilian objects and residential buildings. 

‘The enemy’s attack continues.’

Firefighters work at a site of a thermal power plant damaged by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv (Picture: Reuters)

Rescuers work at the site damaged by the debris of a downed drone, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in the location given as Odesa (Picture: Reuters)

Residential buildings, a maternity hospital, a school and a shopping centre have been reported among the targets in strikes on cities including Kyiv, Lviv, Dnipro, Kharkiv, and Odesa.

Ukrainian prime minister Denys Shmyhal said ‘social and critical infrastructure became the targets of the enemy’, adding: ‘A maternity hospital and a shopping centre were hit in the Dnipropetrovsk region.

‘There were problems with electricity supply in Kharkiv, as a result of the massive attack. Residential buildings were damaged in Lviv, Sumy region, and Odesa.

‘In Kyiv, the building of the Lukyanivska metro station and residential buildings in several districts were damaged.

‘Damage was also recorded in Lviv, Zaporizhzhia and Kyiv regions. There are injured and dead. Condolences to family and friends.’

One missile hit a high rise tower in Kyiv triggering a huge explosion (Picture: Ivan Katchanovski @I_Katchanovski)

In Kyiv, more than a dozen huge explosions were heard. One hit a high rise tower triggering a huge explosion. 

Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said: ‘There are currently five people wounded in the capital. In the Podolsk district, doctors treated two men on the spot. 

‘One victim was hospitalised in Svyatoshynsky District and two in Shevchenkivskyi. 

‘The explosion damaged the building of the Lukyanovskaya metro station. The station works as a shelter.’

The regional administration in Lviv said: ‘According to preliminary information, an apartment building was hit in Lviv. There are victims.

‘A fire broke out in one of the city’s lyceums. Probably due to the fall of missile debris.’

The Yavoriv military training ground near the city was hit, it was reported.

In Dnipro, the Apollo shopping mall was hit and fatalities were reported. 

More: Trending

Mayor Borys Filatov said:  ‘There are dead and injured as a result of the morning attack on Dnipro.’

Video showed a maternity hospital was hit. 

In Kharkiv, 22 missiles hit the city between 5am and 8am, said city mayor Ihor Terekhov.

‘A hospital, a school, residential buildings, a post office and industrial enterprises of the city were damaged. 

‘Seven people were injured and one person died. Rescuers are working on the spot.’

Regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said eight were wounded in the territory. 

‘As of now, as a result of the occupiers’ strikes on Kharkiv, one person has died, a man of about 35 years old. 

‘Eight people were injured, doctors are providing assistance on the spot.’

In Odesa, debris from a kamikaze drone damaged a high-rise building.

Information about the victims is being verified.

In Kharkiv, Olena Kurylo, called the ‘Face of the War’ after her bloody image was flashed around the world in February 2022, said: ‘None of us has slept properly this December in Kharkiv and the region, but this was the worst night with more than 23 missiles and constant air raid alerts since 3am. 

‘My daughter is in a shelter with her boyfriend, they just about had time to pick up their cats and run there. 

‘I am hiding in the basement floor of my house, reading messages from friends from all over the country: Lviv, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa… 

‘None of them slept, again and again they grabbed their children and elderly, and ran.  

‘I’ve been through so many emotions these past two years – from hope that our [Russian] “brothers” simply can’t do this to us, to shock and tears, to anger and now hatred. This cannot go on. 

‘They can’t just go on killing us before the rest of the world, like this is something they have the right to do. 

‘They don’t! They have no right! 

‘Please hear us from under the missiles, from under their endless death drones, from under their shelling.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.